Parallel-throw switch stand



Dec. 1, 1925' 1,563,976

L. A. GREEN PARALLEL THROW SWITCH STAND Filed Sept. 11, 1925 Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

LOUIS A. GREEN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

PARALLEL-THROW SWITCH STAND.

Application filed September 11, 1925. Serial No. 55,658.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, Louis A. GREEN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Pittsburgh, county of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Parallel- Throw Switch Stand, of which the following is a specification. f

The object which I have in view is the provision or" a new and improved switch stand of inexpensive yet durable and efficient character.

In general, my improved switch stand is characterized by a top-support which usually span the space between two adjacent ties and in which is journaled a vertically dispensed pivot-shaft whose lower end is provided with a crank-arm linked to the movable switch-rail. The shaft is provided with a longitudinally slotted diametric opening in which works one end of a bar whose other end is rotatably connected to one end of a crank-lever which is journaled on horizontal axis. The other end ofthe crank-lever is fixedly secured to one end of the throw arm.

In practice I prefer to journal the lower end of the crank-lever in a bracket depend ing from the housing.

In cases where the switch-stand is not to be provided with a target, the under side of the housing may be provided. with a socket bearing for the upper end of: the pivot shaft. Such bearing may be pressed upward in the material of the housing.

Means are provided for adjusting the effective throw of the pivot-shaft crank. Thus the crank-arm may be rod-like to re ceive a sleeve having laterally extending means, such as a pierced ear, for attaching the connecting link, a nut screwed onto the threaded cylindrical outer end of the arm keeping the sleeve thereon, and washers mounted on the rod providing means for adjustment of the relative location of the sleeve thereon. The hole of the sleeve and the portion of the crank-arm and the bores of the washers are oval or non-circular to prevent the sleeve from rotating on the crank arm and then dropping the end of the link.

Other novel and advantageous features of construction, and also arrangement of parts, will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein showing the pivot shaft and crank-lever I assembled, and Fig. 5 is a detail in section taken along the line V-V in Fig.2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a pair of adjacent cross ties which support and are spanned by the housing 2 which is preferably bowed upwardly as shown. 3

is a vertically disposed pivot-shaft whose upper end is journaled in the housing 2. In

the illustration the pivot-shaft does not extend above the housing, and its upper end is provided with a rounded boss 4: which is stepped in a socket bearing 5 pressed upwardly in the material of the housing 2.

The lower end of the pivotshaft is provided with acylindrical axial projection 6 which is journaled in a bearinghole 7 in a bracket 8 depending vfrom the housing.

The body of the pivot-shaft 8 is provided. with a diamctric opening 9 which is elongated vertically so as to receive the flattened end of a bar 10 whose outer end is circular and-is inserted through a hole in the inner end of a crank-lever 11, a nut 12 being screwed onto th threaded outer end of the bar 10 to prevent accidental disengagement from the crank-lever.

The crank-lever 11 is provided with a cylindrical portion 13 which extends through and is journaled on a horizontal axis in a bracket 14 depending from or riveted to the under side of the housing 2. The extremity of the crank-lever protrudes beyond the bearing and is squared. as at 15, to be fitted into the squared hole in the end of the weighted throw-lever 16. Suitable means, such as the cotter pin 17, are provided to hold the throw-lever in place.

The lower end of the pivot-shaft 3 is provided with a horizontal crank-arm 18 which is non-circular is cross-section, as shown in Fig. 5. The crank-arm may be above or below the bracket 8. 19 is a sleeve fitting on the arm 18 and adjustably positioned thereon as by the washers 20. The sleeve and washers are held in position by the nut 21 which is screwed onto the outer circular and the side end of the crank-arm. The sleeve 19 is provided with a laterally extended pierced ear 22 to which is connected the link 23 which extends to the movable switch rail. The sleeve cannot rotate on the arm 18, and thus the ear and link are held in'proper position.

It is evident that by the proper assembling of washers at either end of the crankarm, the throw of the link 23 may be properly adjusted.

It is further evident that the movement of the throw-arm from one extreme to the other will rotate the pivot-shaft in one direction or the other, the end of the bar 10 sliding in the slot 9 as the crank-lever 11 rotates, thus causing the pivot-shaftto turn without binding.

The stand is self-locking, and therefore the switch cannot he accidentally thrown.

Although advantageously applicable to general railway use, my improved stand is more especially designed for light railway use, such as mine railways, where its lightness and compactness especially recommend it. It is also inexpensive to manufacture and is comprised of a minimum of parts which are not subject to excess wear and therefore provide a strong and durable construction.

In the embodiment shown the mechanism is supported beneath thehousing and no portion thereof protrudes above the same, thus preventing injury to workmen by projecting parts. The parts are thus, also, protected from damage.

hat I desire to claim is 1. In a switch-stand, the combination of a support, a vertically disposed pivot-shaft journaled in said support, crank connection between said shaft and the movable switchrail, said shaft being provided with a vertically elongateddiametric opening, a crank lever journaled in said support on a horizontal axis, a bar rotatably connected at its one end to the'inner end of said cranklever and having its other end slidably'engaging the opening in said pivot-shaft, and a throw-arm fixedly connected to the outer end of said crank-lever.

2. In a switch-stand, the combination of support, a vertically disposed pivot-shaft journaled in said support, crank connection between said shaft and the movable switch-rail, said shaft being provided with a vertically elongated diainetric opening, a crank-lever journaled in said support on a horizontal axis, a bar rotatably connected at its one end to the inner end of said crank-lever and having its other end slidably engaging the opening arm fixedly connected to the outer end of iid throw lever.

l. In a switch-stanchthecombination of a support, a vertically disposed pivot-shaft journaled in said support, said pivot-shaft being provided with a vertically elongated diametric opening, a crank-lever journaled on a horizontal axis on saidsupport, a'bar having its one end journaled in a bearing opening in the inner end of said cranklever and its other end slidably engaging the opening in said pivot-shaft, and a throw-arm having its one end fixedly connected to the outer end of said crank-lever.

5; In a switch-stand, the combination of a housing spanning the space between adjacent ties, a bracket depending from said housing, a vertically disposed pivot-shaft journaled between said housing and bracket, said shaft being provided with a vertically elongated diametric opening, crank-connection between the pivot-shaft and the movable switch-rail, a crank-lever journaled beneath said housing on a horizontal axis, a bar having its one end slidably engaging the opening in said pivot-shaft and having its other end rotatably attached to'the inner end of said crank-lever, and a throw-arm fixedly attached to the outer end of said crank lever.

6. In aswitch-stand, the combination of a support, a vertically disposed pivot-shaft journaled in said support, a throw-arm operatively connected to said pivot-shaft to rotate the latter, a crank-arm-carried by said pivot-shaft, a sleeve mounted on said crank arm and provided witha radial pierced ear, and a rail-connecting lin pirotally attached to said ear.

7. In a switch-stand, the combination of a support, a vertically disposed pivot-shaft journaled in said support, a throw-arm operatively connected tosaid pivot-shaft to rotate -the latter, a crank-arm carried by said pivot-shaft, a sleeve non-rotatably mounted on said crank arm and provided with a radial pierced ear, and arail-connecting link pivotally atta ched to said ear.

8. In a switch-stand, the combination of a support, a vertically disposed pivot-shaft journaled in said support, a throw-arm operatively connected to said pivot-shaft to rotate the latter, a crank-arm carried by said pivot-shaft, a sleeve mounted on said crank arm and provided with a radial pierced ear, a rail-connecting link pivotally attached to said ear, and means for adjusting the posi tion of said sleeve along said arm.

9. In a switch-stand the combination of a support, a vertically disposed pivot-shaft journaled in said support, a throw-arm i0 operatively connected to said pivot-shaft to link pivotally attached to said ear, and 1 means for adjusting the position of said sleeve along said arm.

Signed at Pittsburgh, Pa, this 3rd day of Sept. 1925.

LOUIS A. GREEN. 

